Yesterday morning, the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research at Ain Shams University, in cooperation with the Arab Union for Sustainable Development, held a symposium on the Arab Environment Day entitled “Together for Green Recovery”, under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, and Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs Prof. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs.

The symposium was chaired by Prof. Dr. Noha Samir Donia, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Dr. Ashraf Abdel Aziz, Secretary General of the Union, and the symposium deputies Prof. Dr. Reham Refaat, Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Prof. Dr. Alaa Sarhan, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, and symposium coordinator, Dr. Hoda Helal, Director of the Green Transformation Unit.

The symposium was witnessed by Prof. Dr. Khaled Fahmy, Professor at the National Planning Institute and former Egyptian Minister of Environment, Plenipotentiary Minister Dr. Mahmoud Fathallah, Director of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Meteorology, Secretary-General of the Council of Arab Environment Ministers in the League of Arab States, Counselor Nader Gaafar, President of the Arab Union for Sustainable Development and the Environment, and Counselor Mohamed Sherine Fahmy, President of the Supreme State Security Court, along with a group of faculty staff and specialists.

Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development, confirmed that green recovery is at the top of the list of priorities in all discussions and projects, noting that carbon emissions and climate change have left great repercussions on all countries, especially Egypt, which led to the rise in sea levels along with Climate change, desertification and water scarcity, and the Egyptian state has made many great efforts to deal with the problem, including the expansion of the agricultural area in areas (such as the New Delta and Toshka), and water treatment projects to be reused to expand the agricultural area such as treating the water of Lake Mariotia, as well as governmental digital transformation to reduce carbon emissions, in addition to giant mass transportation projects that will reduce carbon emissions.

Also Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Ain Shams University's efforts in green recovery, praising the role of the College of Environmental Studies and Research in spreading awareness through seminars, conferences and projects, noting that there are a number of applied research at the university to support green industries related to the use of renewable energy, as well as environmental projects that contributed to transforming the university to a green university calling for all these efforts to be combined so that the next stage in Egypt becomes the stage of the green economy and the quality of life for the Egyptian person.

On her part, Prof. Dr. Noha Samir Donia said that Egypt and the world are awaiting the convening of the Cop27 climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, pointing out the need for a unified position for all Arab countries towards climate change issues.

She explained that the symposium aims to discuss and support all projects that contribute to reducing environmental pollution

In light of unprecedented international events, such as the world's recovery from the Corona pandemic and the runaway economic inflation that the world is witnessing.

The events also discuss ways to cooperate with official and community organizations and bodies to mitigate the effects of climate change, and discuss enhancing energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation, while promoting research work to preserve biodiversity.

The symposium also seeks to emphasize the importance of sustainable environmental management of natural resources and promote the goals that achieve the green economy to reach environmentally friendly economic and social development that achieve the goals of sustainable development and discuss the most important environmental issues and challenges in the Arab region, while presenting the impact of climate change in various sectors such as tourism, agriculture High rates of migration, damages and challenges.

She added that the symposium includes two sessions in addition to the opening session, including a third session and a round table on women and climatic changes between influence and vulnerability, and coordinates and directs the dialogue in it. Dr. Ekbal Al Samalouti, President of the Future Hawa Association, Secretary General of the Arab Network for Literacy and Adult Education, and Chairman of the Social Committee of the Union of Arab Women Leaders.

The sessions also conveyed the experiences of sister countries, including (Iraq - Yemen - Syria - Libya) in achieving the green economy. Dr. Ashraf Abdel Aziz, Secretary-General of the Arab Union for Sustainable Development and the Environment, said that all Arab organizations celebrate the Arab Environment Day, which falls on the fourteenth of October each year, stressing the role of non-governmental organizations in solving environmental issues that depend on concerted efforts to address the disasters that surround Benna, explaining the role of the Union in promoting this effective and active role to protect the wealth of future generations and mobilize efforts to promote joint Arab action.

The Secretary-General of the Arab Union for Development reviewed the events in which the Union participated, including the participation with the College of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research in many events, praising the role of the Egyptian leadership in supporting major national environmental initiatives.

Prof. Dr. Khaled Fahmy, a professor at the National Planning Institute and former Egyptian Minister of Environment, said that green recovery is a tool of sustainable development, pointing out that sustainable development takes place through the interaction of the three sides, which is the economic, social and environmental aspect, adding that the main challenge for green recovery lies in the continuity that depends on Related policies and plans to achieve them.

The Minister Plenipotentiary Dr. Mahmoud Fathallah, Director of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Meteorology and Secretary-General of the Council of Arab Environment Ministers in the League of Arab States, said in his speech that on this day the Council was established, noting that this is the 35th anniversary of its establishment and that the anniversary of the celebration this year comes under "Together for Green Recovery" slogan

Counselor Nader Gafar, President of the Arab Union for Sustainable Development and the Environment, recorded his gratitude for holding this symposium, which shed light on Arab efforts and practices to preserve the surrounding environment and areas of transition to green, including the rehabilitation of recent graduates, climate ambassadors, employees and workers, development of the transport and education sectors, and work to raise awareness and change the behavior of individuals, especially industrial activities. and creating a new development model.

At the conclusion of the opening session, Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk honored Dr. Ashraf Abdel Aziz, Counselor Nader Ghafar, Prof. Dr. Khaled Fahmy, and Counselor Mohamed SherEn, and the Federation honored Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Prof. Dr. Noha Samir, Prof. Dr. Khaled Fahmy, Counselor Mahmoud Fathallah, and Counsellor Mohamed Sherine.